Peripheral Nervous System Flashcards
What are peripheral nerves composed of?
bundles of axons
What are the types of peripheral nerves?
- sensory (afferent)
- motor (efferent)
- autonomic (also motor)
What do autonomic nerves do?
they are motor nerves that are involved in functions that are NOT under voluntary control
What does the efferent autonomic nerve pathway consist of?
two-neuron chain between CNS and effector organ
- 1st neuron: preganglionic
- 2nd neuron: postganglionic
Motor Neurons
What do motor neurons innervate?
striated muscle fibres
Motor Neurons
Where are motor neurons located?
cell body (soma) is in CNS
Motor Neurons
What do motor neurons do?
release acetylcholine – acts via nicotinic receptors at neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
Sensory Neurons
Where are sensory neurons located?
cell body (soma) is outside CNS in sensory ganglia (in PNS)
What is a ganglion?
collection of neuronal cell bodies in PNS
Autonomic Neurons
Where are autonomic neurons?
in PNS
Autonomic Neurons
What are the 2 types of autonomic neurons?
sympathetic
parasympathetic
Autonomic Neurons
Where is the 1st neuron (preganglionic) in the efferent autonotmic nerve pathway?
cell body is in CNS
Autonomic Neurons
Where is the 2nd neuron (postganglionic) in the efferent autonotmic nerve pathway?
in autonomic ganglion in periphery
- sympathetic system: ganglion is close to CNS in sympathetic system
- parasympathetic system: ganglion is close to, or actually within, the target organ
What are the functions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
- homeostasis – maintaining stable internal environment
- controls vegetative systems (life support) – semi-autonomously, and coordinates with endocrine systems
- blood pressure – HR, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance
- GI motility
- salt/water balance
- pupillary reflexes
- sexual function
What is the ANS coordinated via? (4)
- some reflexes at spinal cord level
- medulla (within brainstem)
- hypothalamus
- prefrontal cortex – emotional states
What do ANS afferent do?
send information into control centres
ANS Afferents
What are baroreceptors?
type of mechanoreceptors allowing for relaying info derived from blood pressure within ANS – monitors blood pressure
ANS Afferents
Where are baroreceptors located?
in aortic arch and carotid sinus
ANS Afferents
What do osmoreceptors do?
regulation of plasma ions
ANS Afferents
Where are thermal receptors located?
in skin and CNS
ANS Afferents
What do thermal sensors do?
regulate body temperature
ANS Afferents
What do cutaneous receptors do?
detect sexual stimuli
ANS Afferents
What do stretch receptors do?
monitor distention in lungs, bladder, stomach, bowel
ANS Afferents
What are 6 types of ANS afferents?
- baroreceptors
- osmoreceptors
- thermal sensors
- cutaneous receptors
- pain fibres in viscera
- stretch receptors
Describe the structure of the sympathetic nervous system.
- has short cholinergic preganglionic fibres
- has long adrenergic postganglionic fibres